Personality Disorders Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which cluster of personality disorders includes behaviors characterized as odd or eccentric?

  • Cluster D
  • Cluster C
  • Cluster A (correct)
  • Cluster B

    • What is a key characteristic of paranoid personality disorder?

  • Lack of interest in social interactions
  • A pattern of pervasive mistrust and suspicion of others (correct)
  • Inability to express emotions
  • Desire for close relationships

    • Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of schizoid personality disorder?

  • Intense desire for social interaction (correct)
  • Detachment from social relationships
  • Failure to respond to others in an emotional way
  • Difficulty forming personal relationships

    • Individuals with paranoid personality disorder often exhibit which of the following behaviors?

    <p>Constantly testing the honesty of others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What predisposes individuals to develop paranoid personality disorder?

    <p>Hereditary links and early parental hostility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which personality disorder is characterized by profound defects in the ability to form personal relationships?

    <p>Schizoid personality disorder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following traits is often attributed to individuals with schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>Hyperfocus on specific topics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do individuals with paranoid personality disorder typically interpret others' motives?

    <p>As hostile or deceitful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cluster of personality disorders is known for behaviors characterized as anxious or fearful?

    <p>Cluster C</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about individuals with paranoid personality disorder?

    <p>They are choosing to be suspicious.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What clinical characteristic is associated with narcissistic personality disorder?

    <p>Overly self-centered behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the mood often experienced by individuals with narcissistic personality disorder?

    <p>Optimistic, relaxed, and carefree</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What emotional response may individuals with narcissistic personality disorder display when faced with criticism?

    <p>Rage, shame, and humiliation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic of avoidant personality disorder?

    <p>Extreme sensitivity to rejection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with avoidant personality disorder often avoid social interactions primarily due to:

    <p>Fear of rejection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common emotional state experienced by people with dependent personality disorder?

    <p>Feelings of helplessness when alone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What behavior is typical of someone with dependent personality disorder?

    <p>Demeaning oneself to gain acceptance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What predisposing factor may contribute to avoidant personality disorder?

    <p>Excessive parental criticism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes individuals with avoidant personality disorder in social situations?

    <p>Awkward and uncomfortable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor may influence the development of dependent personality disorder?

    <p>Extreme reliance on a single source of nurturance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are common characteristics of individuals with schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>They are emotionally cold and isolated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a potential predisposing factor for schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>Indifference in early family dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does schizotypal personality disorder differ from schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder have a strong desire for social connections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a typical behavior of individuals with antisocial personality disorder?

    <p>They often engage in exploitative actions without remorse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which symptom is associated with schizotypal personality disorder when under stress?

    <p>Superstitious beliefs and magical thinking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a diagnostic criterion for schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>Detachment from social relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do individuals with schizotypal personality disorder typically behave in social settings?

    <p>They often withdraw and feel uncomfortable in public.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about antisocial personality disorder is accurate?

    <p>It is often found among those in institutional settings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following characteristics is NOT typically associated with individuals who believe they are above the law?

    <p>Highly compliant with societal norms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a predisposing factor for behaviors associated with individuals who believe they are above the law?

    <p>History of severe physical abuse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary nursing diagnosis for individuals exhibiting the described behaviors?

    <p>Impaired social interaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What outcome indicates effective intervention for a client who believes they are above the law?

    <p>The client verbalizes an understanding of unacceptable behaviors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In planning interventions for clients who are at risk for violence, which strategy should be emphasized?

    <p>Conveying a calm and accepting attitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic of individuals often found in the healthcare system as described?

    <p>Failing to conform to the law</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is not a common behavior of individuals who are seen as believing they are above the law?

    <p>Maintaining consistent employment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Men are generally more likely to exhibit behaviors associated with believing they are above the law than women. What is a potential explanation for this?

    <p>Biological predisposition in men</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is most indicative of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Hyper-awareness of roles and ranks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common trait of individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder regarding their work habits?

    <p>They have excessive devotion to work</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about treatment for personality disorders is true?

    <p>Therapy is the main focus of management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a hallmark feature of individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder in terms of their social behavior?

    <p>They commonly lack a social life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In treatment modalities for personality disorders, which type of therapy specifically addresses emotional regulation and social skills?

    <p>Dialectical behavior therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Flexibility in decision making</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What predisposing factor is associated with the development of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Overcontrol by parents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the demeanor of individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>They appear calm but may harbor internal conflict</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately describes individuals with schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>They exhibit emotional coldness and prefer solitary activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common behavior exhibited by individuals with schizotypal personality disorder?

    <p>Odd speech patterns and superstitious beliefs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a diagnostic criterion for schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>Shows detachment from social relationships and emotional coldness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with antisocial personality disorder are commonly characterized by which of the following traits?

    <p>Propensity for exploitative and socially irresponsible behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of antisocial personality disorder, what is a common misconception about individuals with this diagnosis?

    <p>They are generally remorseful for their actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What underlying factors may contribute to the development of schizoid personality disorder?

    <p>Hereditary factors and cold family environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When individuals with schizotypal personality disorder are under stress, they may display which of the following symptoms?

    <p>Psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a notable characteristic of individuals with antisocial personality disorder regarding their behavior?

    <p>They often manipulate others and avoid legal consequences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is commonly observed in individuals who believe they are above the law?

    <p>Manipulates others for personal gain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant predisposing factor that may influence the development of behaviors associated with believing one is above the law?

    <p>History of severe physical abuse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which nursing diagnosis is applicable for individuals exhibiting behaviors of believing they are above the law?

    <p>Impaired social interaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What behavior is likely to be exhibited by individuals who fail to develop stable relationships?

    <p>Impulsive and reckless actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which outcome indicates that a client has successfully learned to manage their anger appropriately?

    <p>They discuss angry feelings in group sessions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What intervention strategy should be prioritized to address the risk of violence in clients believed to be above the law?

    <p>Maintaining and conveying a calm attitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is most common in clients who exhibit defensive coping mechanisms?

    <p>Externalization of anger</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a typical trait of individuals who fail to conform to societal norms?

    <p>Inconsistent work performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic best describes individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Rigid and inflexible about rules and order</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common behavioral trait of individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Reluctance to delegate tasks to others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors may predispose someone to develop obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Overcontrol by parents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a symptom that could interfere with task completion in individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Rigidity and stubbornness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which treatment modality is specifically focused on improving emotional regulation and social skills in personality disorders?

    <p>Dialectical behavior therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What social behavior is characteristically exhibited by individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>A lack of a social life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary difficulty faced by individuals with borderline personality disorder in relationships?

    <p>They perceive others as either all good or all bad.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder typically show which of the following traits?

    <p>Perfectionism that hampers task completion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is true regarding the demographics of individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

    <p>Occurs more often in men than in women</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which behavior is characteristic of individuals with borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Exhibiting frantic efforts to avoid abandonment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which nursing diagnosis is a priority for clients with borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Risk for self-mutilation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant emotional characteristic of borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Intense and unstable mood fluctuations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about individuals with borderline personality disorder?

    <p>They can have stable self-identity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes 'splitting' in the context of borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Classification of life situations as all positive or all negative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What psychosocial influence is often linked to the development of borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Childhood trauma and abuse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which outcome indicates effective intervention for a client with borderline personality disorder?

    <p>The client is able to identify true sources of anger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a common self-destructive behavior in individuals with borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Directly or indirectly inflicting harm on oneself.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a critical intervention for clients at risk for self-mutilation?

    <p>Offering frequent and close observation of the client's behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What emotional response is commonly exhibited by individuals with narcissistic personality disorder when facing criticism?

    <p>Rage, shame, and humiliation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the social behavior of individuals with avoidant personality disorder?

    <p>They avoid relationships due to fear of rejection and critique.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does dependent personality disorder manifest in social situations?

    <p>They display submissiveness and depend on others for decision-making.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant predisposing factor for avoidant personality disorder?

    <p>Childhood trauma or neglect leading to abandonment fears.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic might be common among parents of children who develop narcissistic personality disorder?

    <p>They are excessively lenient and fail to impose limits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following mood characteristics is often associated with individuals who have narcissistic personality disorder?

    <p>Optimistic, relaxed, cheerful, and carefree</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way do individuals with avoidant personality disorder perceive others?

    <p>As critical and betraying</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What allows individuals with dependent personality disorder to feel accepted by others?

    <p>Their willingness to subordinate their needs to others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What typical speech characteristic is observed in individuals with avoidant personality disorder?

    <p>Slow and constrained with frequent hesitations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a notable characteristic of individuals with dependent personality disorder regarding their self-image?

    <p>They often view themselves as inadequate and lack self-worth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Personality Disorders

    • Personality: a collection of emotional and behavioral traits that are consistent and predictable for an individual
    • Personality traits: characteristics that are present at birth or develop early in life
    • Personality development is influenced by heredity, temperament, experiential learning, and social interaction.
    • Personality disorders occur when personality traits become inflexible and contribute to maladaptive behaviors.
    • Personality disorders are often associated with impairment in functioning.
    • There are ten personality disorders identified in the DSM 5, grouped into three clusters.
    • Cluster A is characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors.
    • Cluster B is characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors.
    • Members of Cluster B are often considered the most challenging in treatment and management.
    • Cluster C is characterized by behaviors described as anxious or fearful.

    Cluster A

    Paranoid Personality Disorder

    • Individuals struggle with profound mistrust and suspicion of others.
    • They readily misinterpret others' motives as hostile, seeing hidden meanings in ordinary events.
    • They tend to believe others are trying to exploit, harm, or deceive them.
    • It is more common in men than women.
    • Presenting characteristics include:
      • Constant vigilance and hypervigilance
      • A readiness for any real or imagined threat
      • Distrust of others, often testing the honesty of others
      • Oversensitivity to cues in the environment, magnifying and distorting them
      • Inability to accept responsibility for their behaviors
      • Frequent questioning and suspicion of others
      • Insensitivity to the feelings of others
      • Attributing shortcomings to others
    • Predisposing factors include:
      • Possible hereditary link
      • Early parental antagonism, hostility, harassment or abusive parenting

    Schizoid Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by an inability to form personal relationships and respond to others in an emotionally meaningful way.
    • Individuals with this disorder avoid close relationships and fail to express emotion.
    • They often focus intensely on specific areas of interest, like math, science, sports, or literature.
    • Diagnosis is more common in men than women.
    • Clinical picture:
      • Emotionally cold, eccentric, aloof, and isolated
      • Preference for solitude, rarely having close friends
      • Appearance of shyness, anxiety, or unease in the presence of others
      • Difficulty acting in a lighthearted manner
    • Predisposing factors:
      • Possible hereditary factor, more common in first-degree relatives of those with schizophrenia.
      • Early family dynamics characterized by indifference, impassivity, and formality.
      • Childhood characterized as bleak, cold, unempathetic, and lacking in nurturing.
    • Diagnostic Criteria: detachment from social relationships, lack of enjoyment from close relationships, preference for solitary activities, and emotional coldness.

    Schizotypal Personality Disorder

    • Behaviors are odd and eccentric, strongly resembling schizophrenia.
    • Individuals may demonstrate psychotic symptoms under stress, such as hallucinations and delusions.
    • They are often aloof and isolated, withdrawing into themselves, with bland or inappropriate affect.
    • They display:
      • Bizarre speech patterns
      • Superstitiousness and magical thinking
      • Ideas of reference, illusions, and depersonalization.
    • They experience difficulty maintaining social connections due to their unconventional thoughts and behaviors.
    • Individuals may engage in behaviors to avoid crowds, such as grocery shopping at night or wearing hoodies in public.

    Cluster B

    Antisocial Personality Disorder

    • Individuals demonstrate socially irresponsible, exploitative, and remorseless behaviors.
    • Behaviors are characterized by a disregard for the rights of others.
    • They lack the ability to experience remorse or guilt.
    • This disorder is commonly found in prisons and rehabilitation services.
    • Individuals with this disorder often seek help to avoid legal consequences or due to court orders.
    • Presenting characteristics:
      • Belligerent and argumentative
      • Unability to accept responsibility for their behaviors
      • Failure to maintain consistent employment
      • Failure to conform to legal guidelines
      • Exploitation and manipulation of others for personal gain
      • Inability to form stable relationships
      • Low frustration tolerance
      • Impulsive and reckless behaviors.
      • Inconsistent academic or work performance
      • Inability to function as a responsible parent
      • Failure to conform to societal norms.
    • The disorder is more common in men than women.
    • Predisposing Factors:
      • Possible genetic influences
      • Previous disruptive behavior disorder
      • Severe physical abuse, absent or inconsistent parental discipline
      • Extreme poverty
      • Removal from the home.

    Borderline Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions.
    • Individuals experience feelings of emptiness and intense fears of abandonment.
    • They exhibit impulsive behaviors in areas like spending, sex, substance abuse, and reckless driving.
    • Additionally, they may engage in self-harm or suicidal behaviors.
    • They often have intense, unstable, and chaotic relationships.
    • Predisposing factors:
      • Possible hereditary factors
      • Early childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect

    Histrionic Personality Disorder

    • Excessive emotionality and attention seeking behavior.
    • Individuals often engage in dramatic behaviors to gain attention.
    • They are easily influenced by others and are often perceived as shallow.
    • They have a high need for approval and may be overly concerned with physical attractiveness.
    • They seek out exciting and dramatic experiences.

    Narcissistic Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
    • Individuals with this disorder have an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a belief that they are special and unique.
    • They require constant admiration and are often envious of others.
    • They lack humility, are overly self-centered and exploit others to fulfill their desires.
    • Their mood, often grounded in grandiosity, is usually optimistic, relaxed, cheerful, and carefree.
    • They have fragile self-esteem and may react angrily, with shame, or humiliation to criticism from others.
    • Predisposing factors:
      • Possible genetic influence.
      • Early parent-child dynamic of excessive adoration or criticism.
      • Parents may have been narcissistic or overindulgent the child without setting limits.

    Cluster C

    Avoidant Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by extreme sensitivity to rejection, often leading to social withdrawal.
    • Individuals with this disorder avoid friendships and relationships out of fear of rejection.
    • They are often described as awkward and uncomfortable in social situations.
    • They desire close relationships but avoid them fearing rejection.
    • They have feelings of inadequacy and view others as critical and betraying.
    • They often feel lonely and unwanted.
    • They tend to have slow and constrained speech with frequent hesitations.
    • They are perceived as timid, withdrawn, or cold and strange.
    • It affects approximately 2-3% of the population.
    • Predisposing Factors:
      • No identified cause.
      • Potentially a combination of biological, genetic, and psychosocial influences.
      • Childhood trauma, neglect, or experiences of abandonment.

    Dependent Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by a lack of self-confidence and an extreme reliance on others.
    • Individuals tend to allow others to make decisions for them and feel helpless when alone.
    • They act submissively and sacrifice their needs to please others.
    • They often tolerate mistreatment and demean themselves.
    • They struggle in situations requiring assertive behavior.
    • They often seek out others for approval and reassurance.
    • Clinical Characteristics:
      • Passive and submissive
      • Feeling helpless when alone
      • Lack of self-confidence
      • Willing to do anything to earn acceptance from others
      • Overly generous and thoughtful, often underplaying their own achievements
      • Low self-worth and sensitivity to criticism or disapproval.
      • Avoidance of positions of leadership or responsibility, experiencing anxiety when forced into them.

    Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

    • Not to be confused with OCD.
    • Individuals are very serious and formal, with difficulty expressing emotions.
    • They experience intense fear of making mistakes, which interferes with decision making.
    • They are hyper-aware of people and their rank or roles.
    • They are overly disciplined, perfectionistic, and preoccupied with rules.
    • They often lack a social life due to their preoccupation with details and rules.
    • Presenting characteristics:
      • Preoccupation with order, rules, details, and perfection
      • Reluctance to delegate tasks
      • Rigidity and stubbornness.
      • Perfectionism that interferes with task completion
      • Excessive devotion to work and productivity, often neglecting personal pleasure.
    • More common in men than women.
    • Predisposing factors:
      • Possible genetic vulnerability
      • Overcontrol by parents
      • Parental lack of positive reinforcement and frequent punishments.

    Treatment Modalities

    • Management of personality disorders relies on therapy, rather than medication.

    • Treatment modalities include:

      • Interpersonal psychotherapy
      • Psychoanalytical psychotherapy
      • Milieu or group therapy.
      • Cognitive/behavioral therapy
      • Dialectical behavior therapy, focusing on emotional regulation and social skills.

    • Dialectical behavior therapy includes four primary modes:

      • Group skills
      • Individual psychotherapy
      • Telephone contact
      • Therapist consultation and team meetings.

    • Psychopharmacology

      • Schizotypal PD: antipsychotic medications
      • Borderline PD: antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing agents
      • Narcissistic PD: lithium

    • Avoid benzodiazepines for treatment of personality disorders.

    Schizoid Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence in the general population is estimated at 3% to 5%
    • People with schizoid personality disorder often appear emotionally cold, eccentric, aloof, lonely, and indifferent to others
    • They avoid close relationships and prefer to be alone
    • Individuals may appear shy, anxious, or uneasy in the presence of others
    • They may have difficulty acting in a lighthearted manner, and their demeanor tends to be inappropriately serious
    • Possible predisposing factors include a possible hereditary component, early family dynamics characterized by indifference, impassivity, and formality, which can shape a pattern of discomfort with affection and closeness.
    • Childhood experiences may be described as bleak, cold, unemphatic, and notably lacking in nurturing.
    • Diagnostic criteria include a detachment from social relationships, lack of enjoyment in close relationships, preference for solitary activities, and emotional coldness.

    Schizotypal Personality Disorder

    • Most closely resembles schizophrenia
    • Estimated to affect roughly 4% of the population
    • When under stress, individuals may experience psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions
    • Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder desire social connections but struggle to maintain them due to unusual thoughts and actions
    • Common symptoms include aloofness, isolation, withdrawal into oneself, bland affect, and inappropriate affect (e.g., laughing at their own problems or sad situations)
    • Their speech patterns can be bizarre, and they may exhibit superstitious beliefs, magical thinking, ideas of reference, illusions, and depersonalization
    • They might engage in behaviors like grocery shopping at night to avoid people or walking with their heads down and hoods up in public

    Antisocial Personality Disorder

    • Previously known as "sociopathic or psychopathic"
    • Includes a pattern of socially irresponsible, exploitative, and remorseless behavior.
    • This behavior reflects a disregard for the rights of others.
    • Clients often lack remorse or guilt and may be deceitful.
    • Most commonly encountered in prisons, jails, and rehabilitation services.
    • Their presence in healthcare settings is often driven by the need to avoid legal consequences or court-ordered assessments.
    • They may hold a belief that they are above the law.
    • Clinical characteristics include belligerent and argumentative behavior, a refusal to accept responsibility for their actions, inconsistent employment, failure to conform to laws, exploitation and manipulation of others for personal gain, lack of remorse, instability in relationships, inability to delay gratification, low frustration tolerance, impulsivity and recklessness, inconsistent work or academic performance, failure to conform to societal norms, and inability to function as a responsible parent.
    • More prevalent in men than women
    • Predisposing factors include a possible genetic influence, disruptive behavior disorders in childhood, history of severe physical abuse, absent or inconsistent parental discipline, extreme poverty, and removal from the home.

    Borderline Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by intense and chaotic relationships marked by affective instability (mood fluctuations) and fluctuating attitudes towards others.
    • They find it challenging to sustain relationships due to their tendency to perceive individuals and situations as "all good" or "all bad."
    • Clinically they present as unable to be alone but may push people away at times (clinging but distancing), exhibiting frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
    • Clinging behaviors include appearing helpless, dependent, or childlike, and over-idealizing a single individual with whom they desire to spend all their time.
    • Distancing behaviors are characterized by hostility, anger, and devaluation of others often stemming from discomfort with closeness
    • Individuals are often impulsive and emotionally unstable.
    • They engage in self-destructive behaviors such as cutting or burning.
    • They utilize splitting, viewing people, themselves, and life situations as either all good or all bad.
    • They use manipulation, often stating phrases like "no one else in the world can help me the way you do."
    • They struggle with a clear sense of identity
    • Their attitudes towards others frequently fluctuate and are extreme
    • Affects approximately 1% to 2% of the population
    • More common in women than in men
    • Predisposing factors include biological influences (e.g., a possible serotonergic defect), genetic predispositions (e.g., familial connection to depression), and psychosocial influences (e.g., the presence of PTSD, childhood trauma and abuse).

    Narcissistic Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
    • They lack humility and are overly self-centered, often exploiting others to fulfill their own desires.
    • While their mood is often grounded in grandiosity, presenting as optimistic, relaxed, cheerful, and carefree, it can easily shift due to their fragile self-esteem.
    • Criticism from others may evoke rage, shame, and humiliation.
    • It is more common in men than women
    • Predisposing factors include a parental dynamic characterized by excessive adoration or criticism, misaligned with the child's experiences.
    • Parents may themselves be narcissistic or overindulge the child while failing to establish appropriate behavioral limits.

    Avoidant Personality Disorder

    • Individuals are extremely sensitive to rejection, leading to a socially withdrawn life.
    • They avoid making friends or pursuing relationships out of fear of saying the wrong thing or experiencing rejection
    • Prevalence is estimated at 2% to 3%, affecting men and women equally
    • Clinical characteristics include awkwardness and discomfort in social situations, a desire for close relationships but avoidance due to fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy, slow and constrained speech with frequent hesitations, timidity, withdrawal, or appearing cold and strange, loneliness, a feeling of unwantedness, and a perception of others as critical or betraying
    • Although no precise cause is known for avoidant personality disorder, a possible explanation involves a combination of biological, genetic, and psychosocial influences.
    • Psychosocial factors may include childhood trauma or neglect, leading to fears of abandonment and a perception of the world as hostile and dangerous.

    Dependent Personality Disorder

    • Characterized by a lack of self-confidence and extreme reliance on others.
    • They often allow others to make decisions for them, feel helpless when alone, act submissively, subordinate their needs to others, tolerate mistreatment by others, demean themselves, and struggle to function in assertive situations.
    • Clinical characteristics encompass passivity, submissiveness, feelings of helplessness when alone, a lack of self-confidence, and a willingness to do anything to earn acceptance
    • They may be overly generous and thoughtful while downplaying their own attractiveness and accomplishments.
    • They have low self-worth and are easily hurt by criticism and disapproval, often avoiding leadership positions and becoming anxious when forced into them.
    • Possible predisposing factors include:
    • a possible hereditary influence
    • psychosocial influences where dependence is fostered in infancy when stimulation and nurturance are experienced exclusively from a single source, leading to a singular attachment to the exclusion of all others.

    Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

    • Individuals are very serious and formal, have difficulty expressing emotions, experience an intense fear of making mistakes, and struggle with decision-making.
    • They are hyper-aware of people and their roles/ranks.
    • They are excessively disciplined, perfectionistic, and preoccupied with rules, demonstrating rigidity and stubbornness.
    • Their perfectionism often interferes with task completion.
    • They are excessively devoted to work and productivity.
    • They commonly lack a social life.
    • They are characterized by inflexibility about how things must be done, devotion to productivity at the expense of personal pleasure, and a lack of social life.
    • More prevalent in men than women, it is most frequent in oldest children.
    • Clinical Characteristics include preoccupation with details, rules, and order; reluctance to delegate, rigidity and stubbornness, perfectionism that interferes with task completion; excessive devotion to work and productivity, a lack of a social life, and inflexibility about how things must be done.
    • They are generally socially polite and formal, appearing calm and controlled on the surface.
    • Beneath the surface, they often experience ambivalence, conflict, and hostility
    • They are rank conscious
    • Predisposing factors include:
    • A possible genetic vulnerability
    • Overcontrol by parents
    • A lack of positive reinforcement for acceptable behavior
    • Frequent punishment for undesirable behavior

    Treatment Modalities For Personality Disorders

    • Treatment focuses on therapy, rather than medication
    • Treatment options include:
    • Interpersonal psychotherapy
    • Psychoanalytical psychotherapy
    • Milieu or group therapy
    • Cognitive/behavioral therapy
    • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which focuses on emotional regulation and social skills. It includes four main modes: group skills, individual psychotherapy, telephone contact, and therapist consultation and team meetings.

    Psychopharmacology

    • Benzodiazepines are not typically used.
    • Schizotypal personality disorder may benefit from antipsychotic medications.
    • Borderline personality disorder may benefit from a combination of antipsychotics and mood-stabilizing agents.
    • Narcissistic personality disorder may benefit from lithium.

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    Personality Disorders PDF

    Description

    Explore the intricacies of personality disorders, including their definitions, development, and the three clusters defined in the DSM 5. This quiz focuses on understanding the characteristics of personality traits and the specificities of Cluster A disorders, such as Paranoid Personality Disorder.

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